Then he stopped. Under the circumstances, making it that far was quite an accomplishment.
When Liu Xiang stopped, so did everyone else. Watching the event on television, here in Minnesota, I thought that I might be watching a remarkable case of sportsmanship, goodwill, or something like that.
Turns out, someone had made a false start, and the racers had to start over. Except for Liu Xiang. He tore the number off his leg, and limped off the field.
The family and I were watching the 110-meter this morning, here in Minnesota, on KARE, a Twin Cities NBC affiliate. (On cable: In the 'good old days,' this town only got one broadcast channel. I like the Information Age.)
We had a better view, in a way, than people in the stands. One of the cameras was in a warm-up area, where Liu Xiang was getting ready. I'm no expert, but the way China's star athlete lurched toward the first hurdle didn't look quite "Olympic."
Liu Xiang seemed to think so, too. Stopping, he looked up, then walked over to an exercise mat hanging on the wall. Both hands on the wall, and his head nearly so, he aimed a precise volley of short kicks at the mat.
Considering the situation, I'd say that was a very controlled, restrained, action.
And, with the hopes of about 1,300,000,000 people on him, along with a global television audience, China's Liu Xiang walked to the starting line.
And started the race.
He didn't win. He had to stop before reaching the first hurdle. But he started.
Hats off, Liu Xiang. That was a class act.
In the news:
- "Liu's withdrawal stuns Beijing Olympics hosts"
CNN (August 18, 2008) - "China's Liu Xiang pulls out of 110 meters hurdles : report"
MarketWatch (August 18, 2008) - "Liu Xiang quits heat"
China.org.cn (August 18, 2008)
(with video: which wouldn't load when I checked) - "Injury too great a hurdle for Liu"
Daily Yomiuri (August 18, 2008) - "Lessons in how to lose with style"
The New Zealand Herald (August 19, 2008)
That is classy. I got to see it today in a recap of yesterday's events and I can definitely see the frustration.
ReplyDeleteBoy, can I identify with kicking the exercise mat! Though kicking it with the bad foot might not have been a good idea.
Brigid,
ReplyDeleteThey were very carefully controlled kicks. Under the circumstances, I can't blame Liu: and he did pick a spot on the wall that was designed to take low-energy impacts like that.